Representation by Nicholas Thorp
- Date submitted
- 30 September 2020
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
We are registering as a local residents living in Friston We agree with the concerns raised by Suffolk County Council and STOP Sizewell C campaign (formerly TEAGS). Living in Friston we are aware of the significance of this part of the Suffolk coast in terms of energy and future energy provision. The scale of what is proposed is huge and poses real issues for the communities living here and businesses operating here. EDFs proposals alone will put a huge strain on already poor infrastructure (road & rail) and essential public services. The cumulative effect of multiple projects being developed at the same time/overlapping compounds these issues, therefore there is an urgent need for a cumulative impact study now before any of these NSIP projects are examined. How can they be examined individually when there is legitimate concern the area will struggle to cope with Sizewell C, factor in Scottish Power’s DCOs for EA1N EA2 and other proposals in the pipeline, the strain on the area is immeasurable without a comprehensive impact assessment. DCO documents only provide a rudimentary cumulative impact assessment. Sizewell C DCO confirms a mainly road led supply with 6.6 million tonnes, two thirds of materials coming along the Suffolk coasts country roads. This highlights the inadequacy of consultation, where it was clear a majority (local authorities, parish councils and residents) favoured a rail/sea led approach to supply construction. 600 rising to 1000+ HGV movements per day is unsustainable on the local road network which will only see basic improvements. When you factor in Socttish Power’s EA1N & EA2 proposals it is likely there would be hundreds more HGVs on the roads and more still if other projects go ahead. It is unquestionable that congestion on the roads will hamper emergency vehicles, police, fire rescue and ambulances getting to and from call outs. It is our concern as residents, a teacher and leisure manager that extra traffic on the roads will also hamper immediate evacuation if the need arose from a nuclear emergency during Sizewell C’s construction. As conservationists and lovers of the Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB & Minsmere it is beggars belief that this protected landscape & neighbouring RSPB Minsmere (SSSI, SAC, SPA & Ramsar Site) face such massive, damaging industrial development. The Planning Inspectorate and Secretary of State have to ensure the NSIP planning process does not fail these protected/designated landscapes. It is hard to see how a balance can be achieved especially when so many additional energy projects are now focused on further development in the area. Images of the ongoing construction of Hinkley C shows that the building site will spill out over many more 100s of acres than the actual footprint of Sizewell C buildings but this has never been accurately portrayed by the lush greenery shown in mockups of the site post completion as used in the DCO documents. Why is there a distinct lack of images showing Hinkley C construction, surely Hinkley C EDFs ongoing build provides fairer pictorial evidence of the extent of construction on the surrounding landscape? All those involved must ask themselves is it fair to sacrifice the Suffolk Coast & wonderful Minsmere to sign off on another EDF nuclear power station?